The showdown is coming All-Star weekend for the NBA’s players union — the players will meet, elect some new board members, review a recent report from an independent law firm on the union’s financial practices, and discuss the future direction for the union.

All of that could spell the end of Billy Hunter as the National Basketball Players Association executive director, a job he has held since 1996.

Hunter’s last contract was not properly approved by the player reps according to the recent report. That report that also raised a number of other ethical red flags around the players union including charges of nepotism and unusual expenditures.

Amid all that powerful agent Arn Tellem sent a letter to his clients urging them to oust Hunter from his long-time position (you can read the entire thing at the New York Times). A lot of agents have lined up against Hunter, feeling he has not fought hard enough against the league and owners to maintain a fair share of league revenue going to the players. Many agents wanted the union to be more aggressive in its negotiating tactics during the lockout, Tellem was among those calling for decertification.

Hunter is fighting to keep his job.

Tuesday Bloomberg reported how Hunter had let go of all his family members working in the union. Wednesday Hunter released a statement that confirmed his daughter, Robyn Hunter, and daughter-in-law, Megan Inaba, have been let go.

The statement went on to say:

“While the report confirmed I did not engage in any criminal conduct or misappropriation of union funds, it is clear there are areas where the player representatives and I could implement better processes in governing the union…

“In my work for the NBPA, my priority has always been to promote the interests of the players. Through the benefit of hindsight, as with any executive, there are always things that could have been done better.”

Still momentum seems to be building against Hunter. This is a power struggle for control of the union.

If you wonder why you should care, in five years both the players union and the owners have the right to opt out and re-negotiate the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. You can bet one if not both sides will do so. And if the union comes in with a new energy and much more hardline stance… well, the NBA could end up following the NHL’s pattern.

I don’t remember playing tonight. I didn’t play. Guys get a lot of money to be ready to play. No Knute Rockne speeches. It’s your job. If you’re a plumber and you don’t do your job, you don’t get any work. I don’t think a plumber needs a pep talk. If a doctor botches operations, he’s not a doctor anymore. If you’re a basketball player, you come ready. It’s called maturity. It’s your job.

Like it or not, motivation is part of an NBA coach’s job.

But that’s also precisely what Popovich is doing.

His credentials dwarf any other coach’s. He can play to his own ego and absolve himself of responsibility – and players will seek to please him. His years of success have earned him the ability to motivate this way, a method no other coach could use without alienating his team.

So, why not hold Motiejunas to what became a four-year, $31 million offer sheet once matched? Houston got something in return – a later trigger date on guaranteeing Motiejunas’ 2017-18 salary. Originally, that decision had to be made March 1 – which would’ve meant dropping Motiejunas from the team this season to prevent his salary from counting next season. Now, the Rockets can make that call in July, after this season is complete.

The following two Julys, Houston will also have a choice on guaranteeing Motiejunas’ upcoming salary or dropping him.

Essentially, Motiejunas is signing the most lucrative Hinkie Special in NBA history. If he plays well and stays healthy, the Rockets have Motiejunas at an affordable rate. If he struggles or his back injuries flare up, they can drop him with little to no penalty.

After they backed themselves into this corner, Motiejunas and his agent, B.J. Armstrong, didn’t do so bad. Considering the similarity between this contract and the Nets’ original offer sheet, it seems Houston helped Armstrong save face after a bungled free agency (which is easier to accept when you’re adding a talented reserve to a formidable team).

But for how little is guaranteed and how much control the Rockets hold over the next four years, wouldn’t Motiejunas have been better off accepting the $4,433,683 qualifying offer?

This means Motiejunas can’t sign with the Nets, who signed him to the original offer sheet, for one year.

I bet it also means Motiejunas and Houston have agreed to a new contract. Otherwise, why release him from the offer sheet? The Rockets would be giving up a tremendous amount of leverage out of the goodness of their hearts – unless this is just a prelude to a new deal with Houston.